Latest news with #SolidRockChurch
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Solid Rock Church holds services morning after fire damages building
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Center Point Fire District says the Solid Rock Church fire was accidental and started just before 8 p.m. Saturday night. Solid Rock pastor Larry Ragland says the damage to the building is extensive. 'It was chaos. It's still a blur, to be honest with you. At first, we thought it was a smoke event, lighting outside that had got into the building, but then we found out there was a fire inside,' Ragland says the fire devasted his church. The side of the building where the flames broke out is where the gymnasium and youth facility are located. The flames didn't reach the sanctuary, but the sanctuary still sustained heavy smoke damage, making it unsafe to host services. Body found in vehicle in Northport Walmart parking lot, investigation underway That didn't stop the Solid Rock Church from gathering Sunday morning for their Pentecostal service. 'There is no way we are going to celebrate the birth of the church and not be at the church,' Ragland said. 'We had over 10 people saved. We baptized 25 people in the parking lot. Tremendous, tremendous service.' Ragland says he expects to make an announcement later this week about the future of the church at Solid Rock. He says if you would like to support the church, you can do so on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mica Miller's story continues to inspire change, engage activists on first anniversary of her death
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — In the year Mica Miller died at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County in what authorities have ruled a suicide, much has changed. Solid Rock Church, a Market Common ministry the 30-year-old loved deeply is no more, while her estranged husband has been investigated by the FBI and sued multiple times over sexual assault allegations. Mica was active at Solid Rock, running its women's ministry, helping with its graphic design and heading up worship sessions. Documented incidents of emotional and psychological abuse by Miller's former partner, Myrtle Beach-area pastor John-Paul, have emerged through police reports and court records — prompting a grassroots movement to strengthen South Carolina's domestic violence laws. Just days before the anniversary of her death, state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, (R-Murrells Inlet), introduced legislation that would criminalize coercive control. In other ways, much has remained the same. South Carolina still ranks near the top in reported domestic violence cases, and demands for justice on behalf of Mica and others continue to draw attention. Sunday's Walk to Remember at The Market Common is the latest reminder that Mica Miller's legacy continues to inspire and engage activists pressing for more comprehensive domestic violence prevention and protection laws. Here's a look back at News13's coverage of Mica Miller and her life: The earliest indication of just how deeply Mica's death would resonate in her community came on May 5, when hundreds of people gathered outside of Solid Rock Church in a display of solidarity, laying a foundation for what would become known as the 'Justice for Mica' movement. 'I came out today to support her, to support her family, to support her story,' said Melissa Snyder. 'Because her story is important, and it needs to be told.' Don Sites, who also attended the morning event, recalled Miller for her warmth. 'I remember one time, just passing by saying 'hi,' and she had the biggest smile on her face saying 'hi' back,' he said. As Mica's story unfolded publicly, her strained relationship with John-Paul was at the center of it all. Two days before her death, she served him with divorce papers. Horry County police reports obtained by News13 in early May 2024 revealed that a GPS tracker was placed on her vehicle. MIller made two complaints on March 11 — the first coming after her vehicle's tire was found slashed near Springmaid Pier, the report said. The second complaint, filed hours later, came after Miller took her vehicle to East Coast Honda on Highway 17 Bypass to have the tire repaired. The police reports indicate that the suspect in both incidents was a male. According to the police reports, Miller first contacted officers at about 1:20 a.m. on March 11 to report one of her tires had been slashed. Officers met her at a Margarita Drive address. Miller told officers that 'this is the second time a razor has deflated her tire in the last week,' the report states. Miller said she was leaving Springmaid Pier when she 'heard a pop and noticed that a piece of metal was protruding from her tire.' Probate court documents filed by two of Mica's siblings showed that their sister feared for her life amid divorce proceedings, at one point confiding that, 'if I end up with a bullet in my head, it was JP,'' Mica's sister, Sierra Francis, said in an affidavit asking to be named the special administrator of Mica's estate. The May 2 affidavits filed by Sierra and Nathaniel Francis allege a pattern of abuse and harassment toward Mica by her husband. 'I know my sister to have expressed the abuse and violence against her by her husband to others, including family members and members of the church congregation,' Sierra Francis' affidavit said. Sierra Francis said her sister told her that people were following her and indicated that her husband had hired people to follow her. The affidavit also alleges that John-Paul transferred assets, including the deed to their home, to one of his sons and moved his wife's personal belongings from their home while she was undergoing treatment at a mental-health facility. Over 10 days in March, Mica Miller used her Facebook page to deliver words of affirmation and messages of strength — ending each one with a smile. Five videos posted between March 18 and March 28 — totaling just over nine minutes — pulled in more than 5,000 positive reactions. 'My Bible says He took all the abuse you could think of for you so that you didn't have to live that life of slavery and bondage and pain', she said on March 22. 'You don't have to stay in an abusive relationship, whether that's sexual, whether that's somebody forcing you to take illegal drugs or alcohol abuse or physical abuse, psychological abuse, making you think this is all your fault, or you're a bad mom, or you're a bad wife or you're a bad husband, or you're not giving it your all when you know you are,' she said. Mica Miller called 911 on April 27 and told authorities she was about to kill herself — purchasing a gun that same day, Robeson County authorities said. 'I'm about to kill myself and I just want my family to know where to find me,' Miller said in the call, according to authorities. That was at 2:54 p.m., and by 3:03 p.m., deputies were sent to Lumber River State Park where her body was found. Mica's relatives were given the information during a May 7 meeting with Sheriff Burnis Wilkins and other investigators. Mica-MillerDownload After that, authorities revealed how Miller spent the final hours of her life — releasing a meticulous timeline and other pieces of evidence to substantiate the medical examiner's conclusion that Miller committed suicide. Authorities confirmed John-Paul spent the night in Charleston at the time of his wife's death. He was seen traveling on Highway 17 Bypass in Horry County at 2:22 p.m. on April 27. 'Unfortunately, rumors and conspiracy theories were spreading quickly, and assumptions were being made. However, in the end, we must make decisions based on the facts, and evidence that has been gathered,' Wilkins said in a news release at the time. John-Paul began 'grooming' Mica before the couple wed in 2017, according to a Myrtle Beach police report obtained by News13. Miller made the allegation in a Feb. 21 complaint about a stolen vehicle after being discharged from an involuntary hospital stay. Court documents show that John-Paul had power of attorney over Mica's healthcare, and he told officers Miller was prone to 'episodes on an annual basis' around Christmas. John-Paul said his wife 'spends large amounts of money when she stops taking her prescribed medication,' and acknowledged having the car to prevent it from being sold. John-Paul Miller told police 'the vehicle was martial property and that he was unwilling to give back to his wife for a month, which he stated was usually the timeframe of these reckless episodes. John-Paul's attorney Russell Long denied Mica's allegations in a lengthy statement. 'Following the untimely death of Mica Miller, unfounded rumors and false accusations began circulating on social media and in various media outlets, suggesting Pastor Miller's involvement in her demise,' he said in a news release. 'This created a buzz, causing local and national media outlets to be proliferating these falsehoods, on a mammoth proportion. Our client refutes any report that suggests he ever abused his wife.' A man who was fishing nearby when authorities said Mica Miller shot and killed herself at a state park near Lumberton says he heard the gunshot and then found some of her personal items on the riverbank when he went to investigate. In an exclusive interview with News13, Johnnie Jacobs, who asked not to be shown on camera, said he has been harassed on social media since the April 27 incident in which authorities said Miller bought a gun in Horry County and then went to the park and took her own life. On the day of the shooting, Jacobs said he remembers hearing cries from that area and a single gunshot. After that, he said the cries stopped. 'As I decided that I was going to stop fishing, I came back through, stopped where they call it a slew or a lake off of the river,' he said. 'So, I pulled in there with my little boat and, maybe five minutes after, and maybe five minutes into the slew, I heard a cry. I heard it for about two or three minutes. Then I stopped, heard a gunshot. Then, the crying stopped.' Jacobs said he could not see Miller but that if he could have seen her he would have tried to help. 'If it had been a person that was crying in the open, I would have checked on them all day long,' he said. 'I just wish I would have gone in there and checked on her.' Jacobs was killed in a March 14 car wreck when authorities say his car was t boned. Mica filed multiple police reports more than month before she died, complaining of GPS trackers tacked to her vehicles. They don't give any indication from police about who placed the trackers on the vehicles, but the documents say Mica's brother Nathaniel forwarded him an email from John-Paul in which he apologized for the 'tires and causing damage to her vehicle.' In November 2023, Sierra Francis called 911 after receiving threatening texts from John-Paul, according to the phone call obtained by NewsNation. The call was made by Mica's sister when Mica was staying with her. She made the call after receiving threatening texts from John-Paul, quoting him in it as saying 'you better drive down the road now or there is going to be hell to pay.' In the call, Mica's sister told the dispatcher that John-Paul was threatening suicide and that he texted 'blood is going to be on your hands.' The sister asked for a police officer to check the roads to ensure John-Paul did not show up. 'Call the cops, I don't care,' John-Paul allegedly told Mica's sister. 'I'm armed and ready.' According to Horry County and Myrtle Beach police records, Mica reported four instances of GPS trackers being placed on vehicles she was driving. News13 began looking to domestic violence laws in South Carolina for victims of stalking and harassing as Mica's story continued to grab attention. According to state law, for someone to be convicted of stalking, victims must be able to show a pattern of two or more acts within a 90-day period. Mica Miller made five police reports related to harassment and stalking in that 90-day period. However, no arrests were ever made. 'Stalking and harassment are just beginning, and they lead to much bigger things that unfortunately, in this case, Mica lost her life because of it,' said Allicia Young, a former Solid Rock Church member and friend of Mica. Young launched an online petition urging lawmakers to adopt 'Mica's Law,' which as of April 26 had garnered more than 40,000 signatures with hundreds of comments from people who said they or a loved one have experienced some type of domestic violence. Some of Mica Miller's personal belongings were turned over to an attorney after lawyers for her family and her husband John-Paul Miller reached an agreement on June 5. 'One of the primary issues we were seeking a court order from the judge is possession of Mica's personal property that's being held in the possession of the Robeson County Sheriff's Department,' Conway attorney Regina Ward said at an hourlong news conference outside the Horry County government building. The deal came shortly before a scheduled hearing in Horry County Family Court to discuss Mica's estate. That session was canceled. Ward said the car Mica drove to Lumber River was titled to her godmother, who will retain possession of it under the terms of the agreement. 'His lawyer would be able to ask us about having access to it to, but right now we are very satisfied and happy that he has been advised by his attorney to allow us to get that property in our possession,' Ward said. The agreement also contained several restraining orders. Despite the prior week's agreement, John-Paul pushed back against Mica's relatives in a series of court filings that included asking a judge to bar a posthumous name change. Four days after, Sierra Francis filed her petition to become special administrator of Mica's estate on May 3, it was amended to include allegations of 'collusion' between John-Paul Miller and his Solid Rock church to undervalue a Coldwater Circle home. The property was transferred solely to John-Paul on Nov. 17, 2020, records show. The next day, he took out a purchase money mortgage of $199,500 — paying it off by Dec. 12, 2023. In July 2021, court documents allege that John-Paul took out a second mortgage against the home, valued at $208,587, both being paid through 'joint marital funds,' court documents say. The Millers then put an additional $90,000 worth of improvements into the home. Mica filed for divorce on Oct. 9, 2023, but that was later dismissed. However, While it was pending, John-Paul sold the home to Solid Rock Ministries for $169,331. 'Defendant Miller's supposed sale of the marital home to Defendant Church is believed to have been his attempt to defraud and deprive his wife … from her fair share of the marital asset,' the amended complaint says. 'Church (Solid Rock) is in collusion with the Defendant Husband in an attempt to deprive Wife from the fair share of the marital estate.' Mica's body was discovered 'prone' and 'submerged' 100 feet from several shell casings found along a Robeson County riverbank where the 30-year-old killed herself in late April, a medical examiner's report revealed. And two days before Mica fatally shot herself at Lumber River State Park on April 27, she had been prescribed anti-anxiety medication — the latest in a series of treatments to combat mental health problems that included suicidal ideations and bipolar disorder, according to a preliminary summary conducted by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Three casings from a Sig Sauer 9 mm were recovered along the riverbank: Two live and one spent, the medical examiner's office said. The gun itself was pulled from the water by magnet about five feet from the shore. The report, which is not based on an autopsy, said a post-mortem blood test performed the day after her death did not show any drugs or alcohol in her system. There were also no signs of a 'physical struggle' near where authorities said the wife of Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller took her life. The Robeson County Sheriff's Office declined to comment that Monday. When contacted by News13 the next day, John-Paul acknowledged the report but did not comment. Entry and exit wounds were marked just above her ears — 4 1/2 inches from the middle of her head. Mica also had seven tattoos — including the name 'John Paul Miller' on the right side of her lower chest. On the day she died, Miller's relatives were unable to contact her via photo calls or text messages. She was last seen alive at 1:33 p.m. in Mullins. A kayaker reported to authorities exactly three hours later that he found a body in the river that was determined to be Mica. The report also said medical records showed that Mica was hospitalized twice between 2022 and 2024 — the first from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, 2022, on 'suicidal precautions for bipolar 1' and 'recurrent manic episode' along with THC dependency and a 'dependent personality disorder.' Mica was admitted again from Feb. 7-12 of this year by a therapist. Mica also was using Delta 8 gummies at the time, the report said. John-Paul and Mica's relatives on July 29 agreed to end all legal disputes and called on protesters to drop demonstrations in front of his Market Common church. Instead, all sides said they want to press state lawmakers into adopting a coercive control law in her memory. Attorneys announced the deal following an Horry County Probate Court hearing. The unified front ended all pending lawsuits between Mica's family, John-Paul and his Solid Rock Ministries have been addressed through a global settlement whose terms are confidential — including control of Mica's estate. 'This is over. This global agreement is Mica's justice. The next step is the legislative goal. We only ask that you remember Mica as the wonderful, beautiful person that she was,' said Russell Long, an attorney for John-Paul Miller. The deal also bars John-Paul from any civil wrongful death claims tied to Mica's suicide. In life, Mica loved music, her community and her faith. All three were on display Nov. 17 as part of a daylong event honoring the life of a woman whose April suicide sparked a national conversation about domestic violence awareness and prevention. 'I know that she would be so very excited to be here for all of this, so we are here standing for Mica and honoring her and everything that she did for his community,' said her sister, Abigail Francis. 'For so many people to be out here is just incredible.' The Socastee High School band, where Mica attended, were among those that performed, and pictures of her lined the road leading into the park. 'She believed that God is the one and only waymaker, so we are out here showing that God makes a way for everything,' Francis said. Inspired by Mica's story and those of dozens more who called his office, Republican state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch of Murrells Inlet on Tuesday introduced a measure that would amend South Carolina's domestic violence law to add coercive control as a criminal offense. Four years ago, lawmakers filed a bill that would criminalize 'coercive control,' with punishments of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Since that time, efforts to get such a law on the books have stalled in both chambers of the General Assembly. Several states including California, Connecticut and Hawaii have adopted 'coercive control' laws, while similar efforts are pending in Florida, Maryland, New York and Washington, according to the group Americas Conference to End Coercive Control. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. * * * Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
WATCH: John-Paul Miller confronted after rape claims
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A Myrtle Beach magistrate on Wednesday denied pastor John-Paul Miller's requests for restraining orders against four protesters who have targeted him and his church since the suicide of his wife Mica in April. Miller was in Magistrate Court on Wednesday, a day after being accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit also named his dad, Reginald, and said they fostered a climate of 'sexual abuse and predatory conduct' in their ministry through the years. News13 asked Miller about the rape allegations as he walked into court Wednesday. He would not comment on the lawsuit and said, 'I have nothing to say to y'all.' At least nine people, including Miller's girlfriend, testified on his behalf at Wednesday's hearings, and the judge ruled that there was an 'obvious bias' because all of them were close to him and the Solid Rock Church. The judge also said almost all of them said they could not say for certain they saw the women at protests in January and December. Timeline: The saga of John-Paul and Mica Miller A large group of churchgoers, including Miller's dad were there to support him. Miller testified during Wednesday's hearing that he's afraid someone will die and that many church members are scared and carry Mace with them. The attorney representing the women said Miller made the case a matter of public interest by doing 'national broadcast interviews.' Demonstrators with the 'Justice for Mica' movement have targeted Miller and his Solid Rock ministry since Mica's death. The protests grew out of abuse and harassment allegations that surfaced in the weeks and months following her death, which authorities ruled a suicide. Earlier this month, a judge denied Miller's request for a restraining order against Melissa Post. The ruling came after three of the four incidents cited by Miller in his complaint against Post were stricken during a lengthy hearing. At least two incidents are needed for a restraining order to be issued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Jane Doe' sues John-Paul Miller and his father, says ministry fostered ‘sexual abuse and predatory conduct' for decades
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A woman is suing John-Paul Miller and his father, accusing both in Horry County Circuit Court of 'sexual abuse and predatory conduct' that often targeted minors over decades. The 43-page complaint alleges that John-Paul touched her genitals without her consent as recently as 2023 and that the assault 'triggered repressed memories' of a previous assault by him that allegedly occurred nearly 20 years earlier when she was 15 years old and he was 19. It doesn't mention whether the woman has provided information to any law enforcement officials concerning her allegations. JP-Miller-lawsuitDownload The lawsuit names the Millers, All Nations Cathedral Church, formerly Cathedral Baptist Church of the Grand Strand and Solid Rock Ministries. Sister station News13 has reached out to her Rock Hill-based attorney Randall Hood for comment. 'The Defendants — both individually and together — have built, maintained and concealed a system of sexual misconduct that harmed numerous minors, including Plaintiff Jane Doe #1,' the complaint says. Timeline: The saga of John-Paul and Mica Miller The woman now lives in Indiana as an adult, and the lawsuit says she is being identified as 'Jane Doe' to avoid the risk of 'humiliation and embarrassment.' In 2023, the woman at the lawsuit's center encountered John-Paul in person during a trip to Myrtle Beach with a friend. That's when he leaned in to hug her 'and shoved his hand down her pants touching her genitals without consent,' according to the complaint. A short time later, the woman and Miller got into a heated argument over use of his title as 'pastor' and citing scripture to justify the assault. 'In response, JPM cited scripture, telling Plaintiff: 'No man is without sin and temptation. God understands that.'' The woman's lawsuit also raises questions about financial dealings of the ministries and their leaders. John-Paul Miller has repeatedly refused to speak with News13, which also reached out to him Tuesday for this story. Attorney Russell Long, who has represented Miller in other legal matters, declined comment when contacted by News13 on Tuesday. News13 also contacted Reginald Miller on Tuesday, who in a text referred a reporter to Long. John-Paul Miller has been embroiled in controversy since his wife Mica's death last April, while he was pastor at Solid Rock Church in The Market Common. Mica's death at the Lumber River State Park near Lumberton in Robeson County was ruled a suicide, but her family and numerous protestors within the 'Justice for Mica' movement have pushed forward with claims that he abused his wife. Court records depict bitter end of friendship between family, embattled Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul was jailed on an assault charge in November after an incident near the Solid Rock Church, which has since been closed and sold. Prior to that, the FBI searched his home in the Azalea Lakes neighborhood near Myrtle Beach. He also has sued a former paralegal, accusing her of libel and slander on social media, and multiple protesters, though court records show that some of those cases were dismissed. Jane Doe's lawsuit claims the Millers' churches 'operated without adequate protections for minors' and created 'an environment where abuse could thrive.' 'It was part of a calculated plan to groom victims while simultaneously gaining the community's trust and financial support,' the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit also alleges that the Millers failed to put in place policies to protect minors from abuse by adult church members. 'Despite the inherent risks associated with minors in a church, youth programs and church-based mentorship, Defendants failed to implement common-sense safeguards, such as prohibiting one-on-one unsupervised interactions between adults and minors, requiring background checks for all staff and volunteers, and establishing mandatory reporting protocols for suspected abuse,' the lawsuit claims. The Millers' ministry dates back to the early 1970s, when Reginald Miller founded the Florence Tabernacle Church, the lawsuit said. The ministry eventually grew into the Gloryland Bible College and later Cathedral Bible College. The ministry was relocated to Myrtle Beach in 1993 following allegations of sexual misconduct involving Reginald Miller and students of the college, the lawsuit said. That was followed by the creation of Cathedral Baptist Church. 'Over time, in an effort to further distance himself from prior controversies and to maintain operational continuity under a new identity, Cathedral changed names and identities to 'All Nations Church' while remaining under the same centralized control of RWM and his innercircle,' the lawsuit says. Then, in 2013, the operations of All Nations Church were transferred to John-Paul Miller's newly created Solid Rock Ministries, the lawsuit said. The Millers acted as 'alter egos' of all the ministries — 'effectively consolidating them into a single, unified entity that is indistinguishable from one another,' according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also contains past court filings from John-Paul Miller's former wife, Alison, and Reginald Miller's ex-wife, Susan, to support past claims of emotional, physical and 'inappropriate sexual behavior with minors' involving Reginald and John-Paul. 911 calls released after Matthews woman allegedly locked her boyfriend inside a Monroe storage unit for days Both women detailed those accounts as they sought sole custody of their children — Alison in May 2024 and Susan in June 2001. 'J.P. told me that in addition to his affair with Mica, he had employed prostitutes, and been sexually inappropriate with several underage female members of our church,' Williams said in her affidavit. 'He blamed his immoral sexual behaviors on the sexual abuse he experienced for years by his father, [Reginald] Wayne Miller.' Williams said Solid Rock leaders asked John-Paul to enroll in an 'extensive sexual education program,' but he opted not to do so. The woman is seeking unspecified final damages on grounds of negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress and violating the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
John-Paul Miller's Myrtle Beach church was his piggybank and status symbol, lawsuit claims
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — At one point in the middle of 2024, John-Paul Miller controlled a nearly $6 million real estate portfolio that included a private plane and huge swath of land along Highway 17 Bypass. The Solid Rock Church pastor was never shy about sharing his fascination with money — he called it 'the most fascinating subject to me in the Bible' during a February 2021 sermon. 'But this image was a lie,' is how a 43-page lawsuit filed Tuesday against Miller, his father Reginald Wayne and their consortium of ministries begins. ' It was part of a calculated plan to groom victims while simultaneously gaining the community's trust and financial support.' Timeline: The saga of John-Paul and Mica Miller The suit claims that the Millers 'presented themselves as devout religious leaders' through the years and ran the churches 'for their own personal financial gain,' while also using 'their positions of power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable victims while concealing their actions from the public.' John-Paul Miller has repeatedly refused to speak with News13, which also reached out to him Tuesday for this story. Attorney Russell Long, who has represented Miller in other legal matters, declined comment when contacted by News13 on Tuesday. The complaint — filed by an anonymous woman who said John-Paul raped her when she was 15 years old in 1998 — also pulls apart the church's financial standing in a bid to prevent a cap on damages due to ecclesiastical and nonprofit protections. Sunday rock and roll, ministry trips to Kenya and plans to construct a lavish school on that prized piece of Horry County property on Highway 17 were all part of the Miller brand — partly on the strength of tithes from his followers. News13 has been investigating John-Paul Miller and his Solid Rock Ministries for a nearly a year — ever since his wife Mica died by suicide last April at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County amid allegations of abuse and a contentious divorce proceeding. Since that time, a flurry of lawsuits against and by John-Paul Miller have wound through Horry County's court system — many of them adding context and new details about his troubled past. Tuesday's lawsuit is the first that takes aim at the Millers' evangelical empire, which began with Reginald in the early 1970s in Florence and migrated to Myrtle Beach in 1993. Two years later, Reginald acquired property at 803 Howard Ave., paying the U.S. Air Force $280,000 for a site that now sits inside The Market Common. Beginning as Cathedral Baptist Church and then All Nations Church, the 2.31-acre parcel was transferred to John-Paul in 2013 under the Solid Rock name — his son created the ministry seven years earlier. In 2014, Reginald Miller took a deal with federal prosecutors after pleading guilty to fraud in foreign labor contracting, visa fraud and willful failure to pay minimum wage — all stemming from claims that they worked at Miller's Cathedral Bible College under a 'pervasive climate of fear and intimidation' that includes being forced to work at Miller's home unpaid, deprivation of food and water and threats to eliminate their visa status. Miller was charged with crimes that carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 'Though the names have changed over the years … (all) are not separate and distinct entities but rather a continuing joint enterprise under the exclusive control of RWM and JPM, evolving over time through strategic name changes and restructuring to maintain their influence, evade scrutiny and shield assets from liability,' the lawsuit claims. Among Jane Doe's allegations is that the Millers violated South Carolina's Unfair Trade Practices Act and shouldn't be granted 'charitable immunity' under state if found liable for her rape. 'While allowing John-Paul Miller to be a church leader may involve ecclesiastical considerations, the training, supervision and monitoring of Miller to prevent the abuse of minors is a secular obligation governed by neutral principles of law, which Defendants failed to uphold,' the lawsuit claims. Solid Rock Church on Feb. 13 was purchased by Salem Woods Holdings LLC for $2.1 million. By that time, its membership had dwindled to nearly nothing as controversy dogged John-Paul after his wife's death — punctuated by weekly 'Justice for Mica' protests across the street on Sundays. But back in 2021, Miller explained why tithing was such an important part of his life — and needed to be for his churchgoers as well. 'All growing up, I saw Christians manipulate each other financially, I've seen spouses break up and have horrible marriages because they fight about money, I've seen friendships that were supposed to last forever disintegrate because of money,' he said at a sermon. Miller said he would ask the church's bookkeeper for tithing information on congregants if they expressed interest in taking on a leadership role or 'cause me a whole bunch of problems.' Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of a person's income to support a church or religious community. Miller said he began tithing in 2003 after a religious conversion. Solid Rock Church earned its federal tax-exempt status in 2015. 'Let's say you meet somebody and you start to fall in love and you really want to get to know them, because we can all put on a good face, we can all fake people out, if you really want to know somebody, look at their bank account,' Miller said. 'Imagine telling somebody, 'I love you,' but they never ever spend any money on you.' While Solid Rock Ministries doesn't claim a denomination, marketing materials labelled it as 'Christian.' On Solid Rock's now defunct website, John-Paul Miller started one section by saying 'I am the richest person on the planet.' The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability — which counts more than 2,700 affiliates nationwide — does not include Solid Rock Ministries among them, according to its websiteGround Zero in Myrtle Beach and WMBJ FM based in Murrells Inlet are ECFA members. On its website, Solid Rock explained how its finances were split: A third on ministry purposes including local, national and international mission work, a third for employment and third for maintenance and operations. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
